The day in delegates, super switch

Posted: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 3:57 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Obama won a superdelegate switch, the campaign confirms. AP first reported that Virginia's Jennifer McClellan had switched her support from Clinton to Obama.

The day in delegates: Obama 4, Clinton 1
This is the fourth superdelegate endorsement Obama has won today. Clinton has netted one: She lost McClellan, but won the endorsements of Rep. Heath Shuler (NC-11), who said he'd back who won his district. NBC's Mike Viqueira reports Rep. Brad Ellsworth (IN-8) is also backing Clinton, since she won his district last night as well.

The Delegate Counts:
PLEDGED: Obama 1,588-1,422
SUPERDELEGATES: Clinton 273.5-260
OVERALL: 1,848-1.695.5

* Obama is 177 from the Magic Number of 2,025
* There are 261.5 undeclared superdelegates.

*** UPDATE *** For those asking or wondering, George McGovern is not a superdelegate.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Ellsworth's office sends along this distinction: "I stand by my belief the American people, not superdelegates, should decide who the Democrat nominee will be, and I was glad to see record numbers of Hoosiers getting involved and casting their votes in this historic race," Ellsworth writes in a statement, "If it comes down to the convention, I will cast my vote for the candidate 8th District voters chose unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise."

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Comments

Back the nominee who's winning superdelegates. It's time to end this once and for all. Her vision is not that of the majority and all you are doing is dragging this out, giving MSNBC and Newsweek more opportunity to sensationalize this event.

I blame the Clintons, the press and the supers at this point for any negative slant to the Democratic party.

Rob, Carlsbad, CA (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:22 PM)

It's finally happening as we all knew it would! Let the good times roll! OBAMA 08'!!!

Time4Change, Manchester, Maine (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:24 PM)

SuperDelegates that have not made up their minds at this point are either stupid or slow

Duane, Renton (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:27 PM)

The race is over and Obama needs to focus on a running mate, and it isn't Hillary Clinton. My dream ticket would be Obama/Webb, as in Jim Webb of VA

Roger of Merrimack NH (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:27 PM)

Here... we... go!!! :-D

Buzz, Washington, DC (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:28 PM)

Check Mate game over!!!!

GameChanger , Seattle (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:29 PM)

The floodgates are starting...be prepared for the flood of superdelegates to choose in the next two weeks and end this thing mercifully before June 3.

Jon, Reno, NV (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:32 PM)

Well we heard it today, another change in the goal post. Hillary said we should use the Republican winner take all primary process and apply it to the democratic primary. If the super delegates apply that logic then they can give her the nomination. I just wonder how ridiculous this is going to get.

I understand that the supers want to respect the Clintons but the game is over and everyone knows it. They need to endorse Senator Obama NOW, if they wait it will give the appearance that they don’t have confidence in the people’s choice and that is not good for the party.

IT’S TIME TO UNITE!!!!!

Tammy Wiggins, Liberty Hill, Texas (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:37 PM)

Who's the .5 Super?

John, NJ (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:42 PM)

Ding Dong.... and it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood and the world!

Thanks, IN & NC (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:48 PM)

"* Obama is 177 from the Magic Number of 2,025…"

If there were no superdelegates (big "IF" there), IF there were no superdelegates, the magic number would be 1,627 (½ + 1 of 3,253; 3,253 being the number of "earnable" (i.e. "pledged") delegates available, not counting Florida and Michigan). Obama has 1,588 by MSNBC's count. That puts him 39 "pledged" delegates short.
He'll be there by midnight on 20 May '08, when Kentucky and Oregon come in. That's when he'll win the race for public delegates. After that, it's up to the party honchos what to do 'bout that, but Obama will have won the race that night.

Lee C. ― U.S.A. (Sent Wednesday, May 07, 2008 5:59 PM)

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